Shareholders approve share redemption and buyback, dividend increase; Anders Lannebo new Board memb

- Application period for redemption to begin May 8, 2000
- Share buy-back of up to 5 percent of shares approved
- Dividend will increase from 1.10 SEK/share to 1.25
- Anders Lannebo elected new Director of the Board

At the Annual General Meeting of Swedish Match on April 27th, it was resolved in accordance with the proposal of the Board of Directors to pay a dividend per share of 1.25 SEK. The record date for the dividend entitlement was set at May 3, 2000. The dividend is expected to be distributed on May 10, 2000 through VPC.

Furthermore, the shareholders approved an authorization for a reduction in the Company’s share capital by a maximum of 67,781,945 SEK through the redemption of no more than every 14th share in the Company for 35 SEK per share in cash. The record date for entitlement to be granted a right of redemption is May 3, 2000. Detailed information will be distributed to all shareholders in conjunction with the start of the application period, which is May 8,2000

Shareholders approved an authorization to decide, prior to the next annual general meeting, to acquire a maximum of as many shares as may be acquired without the Company’s holding at any time exceeding 5% of all shares in the Company. The shares shall be acquired on the Stockholm Stock Exchange OM at a price within the price interval registered at any given time (market price).

Shareholders have re-elected Arne Bennborn, Jan Blomberg, BerntMagnusson, Lennart Sundén, Meg Tivéus, and Klaus Unger to the Board of Directors. Anders Lannebo was elected as a new member to the Board.

In addition, shareholders approved all other proposals made by the Board of Directors as outlined in the published notice of the Annual General Meeting for Swedish Match AB.